Fracking's harm knows no borders

New Yorkers are nearly evenly divided between those who want hydro-fracking for natural gas in New York State's Marcellus Shale, and those who do not - with a slight edge in favor of the latter.

When the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation finally completes its environmental reviews and approves the accompanying regulations, will Gov. Andrew Cuomo then go ahead and allow fracking in those municipalities where a majority of residents has expressed approval? We sincerely hope not - there is no way to confine the harmful effects of fracking to the area that is being fracked. Neighboring, and even more distant communities, will feel its effects. The millions of gallons of water that are needed to frack even one well will be collected from wherever water is available and transported to the drilling pads via hundreds of heavy, diesel-spewing trucks, tearing up roads that traverse "anti-fracking" towns.

Unavoidable spills along roads, runoff from drilling pads and overflows from detention ponds during storm events will contaminate streams, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, recharge areas and aquifers. Runoff and overflows inevitably contain harmful chemicals used in fracking operations in addition to radioactive waste products such as Radium-226, which is ubiquitous in New York's Marcellus Shale, and whose emissions are a major cause of lung cancer.

We ask our governor to act responsibly and not permit fracking in some receptive municipalities, thereby inevitably harming others.

Marian H. Rose, Ph.D.

Bedford

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Fracking's harm knows no borders

New Yorkers are nearly evenly divided between those who want hydro-fracking for natural gas in New York State's Marcellus Shale, and those who do not ? with a slight edge in favor of the latter.

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